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Grand Canyon

One of the 7 natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is a must see for everyone. As soon as you enter this enchanted place, you will be amazed at the sheer cliffs and winding canyons.

The sheer size of this natural wonder is mind boggling. It is 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide. Looking down, you can be gazing at a depth of 1 mile from the top.

It took nature 2 billion years to build this marvel but you only need a few days to explore and appreciate its beauty.

You can read more about the history and geology of the Canyon at Wikipedia.

How to get there

If you are coming from a neighboring state, you will probably drive to the South Rim entrance. If you are coming from further away you can fly into Flagstaff, Arizona then rent a car or ride a shuttle to the Grand Canyon plaza.

You can always take a tour from Las Vegas or Flagstaff. On a recent trip, I stayed in Las Vegas and then drove to the south rim. Going this route, you get to see the new Hoover Dam bypass bridge.

Some tour operators offer Helicopter tour to the canyon and others offer you a whitewater rafting tour through the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon.

Another way to get to the south rim is to ride on the Grand Canyon Railway. A historic train ride from Williams, Arizona to the Grand Canyon station.

If you can, book the observation dome for breathtaking views along the way.

The South Rim is the destination for most visitors. But if want to explore more of the canyon, consider going to the West or North rims.

South Rim

The south rim is the most popular destination with iconic buildings, lodging close to the rim and challenging hiking trails.

You can spend your time strolling along the rim, taking short guided tours or you can hike all the way to the canyon bottom and back.

The Visitor Center

Start your journey at the National Geographic Visitor Center where you can find information about tours, maps, guides and an IMAX movie about the Canyon.

At the center, you can book adventures to explore the Canyon by, air, jeep or rafting.

The companion website helps you plan your visit, book hotels and buy tickets before you arrive at the Grand Canyon. Go here the plan your visit. www.explorethecanyon.com

While at the center you can enjoy a nice meal at the Explorer’s Café. They serve Pizza Hut pies and deli sandwiches in a relaxing atmosphere.

The center received the 2016 TripAdvisor’s award of excellence acknowledging consistence customer reviews.

Around the Village

Whether you are staying at one of the village hotels and lodges or you just arrived on a bus, you can walk to many of iconic landmarks and overlook.

You can visit the Hopi House which was built in 1904 and has a unique architecture that mimics the cascading cliffs of the canyon. The Hopi are the native Americans of the Grand Canyon. After admiring the building from outside you can go inside to visit a museum and some shops.

The Lookout Studio is also a walking distance from the village. It's perched at the edge of the canyon with commanding views in all directions. Inside you can view nature photography and buy gifts.

Next you must visit Kolb Studio. This building clings to the cliff side and cascades down several levels. Inside is an art gallery and bookstore.

Mather Point is one of the most popular canyon overlooks. It is close to the visitor center and is the first view that most visitors see when they arrive. If you have time avoid this overcrowded place and try one of the other overlooks.

A little further away you get the most amazing views from Bright Angel overlook. You will get the best views at sunset or sunrise. Get your cameras ready for most memorable photos.

Are you exhausted from the heat, but you want to see more of the Canyon? Then go to Yavapai Observation Station. From the air-conditioned indoor observation deck, you can still see some breathtaking views.

While inside, learn about how the Canyon was formed over the millennia at the geology museum.

Biking

Biking around the south rim is fun and easy along the mostly paved rim trail. You can rent bikes at the visitor center and start your exploring.

The trail is about 13 miles and mostly paved and level. There are areas where biking is not allowed. You are expected to dismount and walk your bike. This mainly to accommodate predestines in narrow and crowded areas.

If get tired at any point along the route, you can hop on the free shuttle – with available bike racks in the front.

Alternatively, you can start on the Schulte bus and go to the furthest stop then bike back to your starting point.

Transportation

Once you get to the Grand Canyon, leave your car behind and use the free shuttle system to get around.

The shuttles buses come around to each stop every 15 minutes and have routes that will take you to all the important landmarks and overlook points.

The routes are color-coded:

Blue Line

Connects the visitor center to lodges, campgrounds and attractions around the village.

Hiking

Rim Trail

This is the easiest way to enjoy the Grand Canyon. The trail is on a flat road and has many points of interest along the way.

Tip: Getting tired? Just hop on the shuttle to go to the next stop or back to your car or lodge. The trail is accessible from any of the shuttle stops.

The trail is about 13 miles long and will take the whole day to complete. Especially because you will be stopping a lot along the way to admire the views.

The trail starts from the South Kaibab trailhead and continues to Hermits Rest. Along the way, you will see some of the most popular viewing points like Pipe Creek Vista, Yavapai Point, Trailview Overlook, Hopi Point and The Abyss.

Tip: Best time to view the canyon is during the Golden Hours. One hour after sunrise or one hour before sunset. This is when the canyon walls to turn every shade of gold.

You can customize this hike to your needs. For example, you can start from the Village and go south or north for a shorter hike. You can then double-back or take the shuttle back.

If you prefer a more strenuous hike, don’t worry, you can choose one of the many moderate to difficult trails.

Bright Angel Trail

This hike is not for the beginners. It is a 9.2-mile trail going down all the way to the canyon floor. You will be descending about 4000 feet so expect to climb them back up to the rim.

Tip: Always bring lots of water with you, especially in hot weather. Water is available at several rest stops on the trail and at the Indian Garden.

Obviously, you don’t have to hike all the way down. You can set a goal of reaching some of the rest stops along the way and then doubling back. You can stop at the Mile-and-a-half Rest house (about 1.6 miles) or the Three Mile rest house (about 3.1 miles from the trailhead.

Some people prefer to hike down one day, camp at one of the campgrounds then hike back up the following day.

You can camp at Indian Garden Campground or at the Bright Angel Campground, but you have to reserve a spot way ahead of time.

Finally, if you want to enjoy the amazing views along this trail but you don’t feel like hiking, you can always book a mule ride.